atjje  Hibrarp 

of  t&e 

Unibersitpof  Jgortfj  Carolina 


ana 

^fjtlant!) topic  Societies; 


Doc.  No.  12.] 


[Ses.  1854-'55. 


* 


REPORT 


•.*  w 


ATLANTIC  I  N.  C,  RAILROAD, 


RALEIGH: 

W.  W.  HOLDEN,  PRINTER  TO  THE  STATE, 

1854. 


*• 


*       • 


t 


Raleigh,  November  7th,  1854. 

His  Excellency  David  S.  JReid: 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  lay  before  you  ray 
report  on  the  surveys  of  the  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina 
Railroad. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your 

Excellency's  most  obedient  servant, 

WALTER  GWYNN. 


* 


* 


REPORT. 


5^ 


Raleigh,  Octobee  17,  1854. 
His  Excellency,  David  8.  Reidj 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report 
and  estimates  of  the  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Rail- 
road-, together  with  a  map  and  profile  of  the  road.  The 
courses  of  Trent  river  to  Trent  bridge,  Brice's  creek, 
Newport  river,  and  the  position  of  the  lakes,  are  laid  down 
from  maps  and  notes  of  surveys  made  by  Mr.  Jonathan 
Price,  kindly  furnished  by  R.  S.  Donnell  Esq.,  of  Wash- 
ington. 

In  the  discharge  of  the  important  duty  entrusted  to  me 
of  making  the  surveys  of  this  railroad,  I  have  acted  in 
conformity  with  your  verbal  instructions,  to  survey  any 
routes  that  those  interested  in  particular  localities  at 
Newbern  and  Beaufort  harbor  might  desire,  and  in  strict 
compliance  with  the  38th  section  of  the  act  of  incorpora- 
tion, which  makes  an  appropriation  of  funds,  and  enacts 
that  it  shall  be  applied  in  "  making  a  survey  of  the  most 
practicable  route  for  a  railroad  from  the  most  eligible 
point  in  the  harbor  of  Beaufort  by  Newbern,  Trenton 
and  Kinston,  to  the  terminus  of  the  North  Carolina  Bail- 
road  at  or  near  Goldsborough." 

In  accordance  with  these  requirements,  the  survey  was 
commenced  in  the  town  of  Goldsborough  at  the  terminus 
of  the  North  Carolina  Railroad,  thence  it  was  conducted 
through  Kinston,  to  a  point  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Tren- 
ton, with  which  place  a  connection  will  be  formed  by  a 


branch  track,  and  thence  by  Newbern  to  Gallant's  point, 
Beaufort  and  Shepherd's  point  on  the  harbor  of  Beaufort, 
and  to  Lennoxville  on  Core  sound. 

I  would  here  take  occasion  to  say  that  had  I  not  been 
restrained  by  the  charter,  and  confined  to  particular 
points,  I  should  have  taken  a  more  direct  route  between 
Goldsborough  and  JSTewbern. 

In  passing  Xewbern  two  lines  were  run  ;  first  through 
the  suburbs  of  the  town:  secondly,  through  George 
street ;  both  lines  crossing  Trent  river  at  Newbern. 
These  lines  are  objectionable  on  account  of  the  great 
length  of  the  bridges  across  Trent  river,  being  at  points 
where  they  would  be  so  much  endangered  by  gales  of 
wind,  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  make  open  or  uncov- 
ered bridges,  thus  exposing  the  timber  to  the  action  of 
the  weather,  and  requiring  a  renewal  of  the  bridges 
every  six  or  seven  years.  With  the  view  of  avoiding 
these  objections,  I  would  recommend  for  the  route  of  the 
railroad,  a  line  skirting  the  bounds  of  Newbern,  and 
crossing  the  Trent  river  near  Claremont  bridge,  the 
position  of  which  is  established  on  the  map  before  you ; 
the  cost  of  the  road  would  remain  about  the  same,  while 
the  length  would  be  increased  about  half  a  mile.  That, 
and  a  greater  distance  would  be  saved,  however,  on  a 
more  direct  route  from  Goldsborough  to  Newbern,  as 
heretofore  indicated. 

The  length  of  the  line  as  surveyed  from  Goldsborough 
to  Gallant's  point  is  99  miles ;  to  Beaufort  96.6  miles ;  to 
Lennoxville  100.36  miles ;  to  Shepperd's  point  95.84 
miles,  and  the  cost  of  these  respective  lines  are  $1,687,899, 
$1,743,690,  $1,754,047  and  $1,663,118. 

Hence,  it  appears,  taking  Beaufort  on  the  north  side  of 
the  harbor,  and  Shepperd's  point  on  the  south,  as  the 
points  of  comparison,  that  the  line  to  Shepperd's  point  is 
3.76  miles  shorter,  and  costs  $80,572  less  than  the  fine  to 
Beaufort.   By  carrying  out  the  various  computations  and 


making  the  comparison,  which  can  be  readily  done,  the 
length  and  cost  of  each  line  compared  with  that  of  the 
others  can  he  ascertained. 

I  have  given  the  length  of  the  lines,  as  surveyed,  which 
are  only  preliminary  or  experimental  lines ;  an  actual  lo- 
cation will  reduce  the  distance  to  Beaufort  to  about  98 
miles  and  to  Shephard's  point  94£  miles.  The  curva- 
tures on  each  will  not  exceed  3|-  miles  in  length,  de- 
scribed on  radii  not  less  than  2865  feet.  The  maximum 
grades  are  36  feet  going  west,  and  32  feet  east.  The 
grades  are  made  out  in  tabular  form,  herewith  annexed, 
exhibiting  their  character  on  all  parts  of  the  line.  I  have 
estimated  for  a  single  track  and  for  a  superstructure  with 
a  T  rail  weighing  60  pounds  to  the  yard.  The  drains  and 
culverts  to  be  tressel  work,  to  be  replaced  by  brick  or 
stone  as  soon  as  the  track  is  sufficiently  advanced  to  af- 
ford transportation  for  ''the  materials.  The  bridges  will 
be  built  on  the  most  substantial  plan  of  wooden  structures, 
resting  on  stone  or  brick  abutments.  The  estimate  also 
embraces  warehouses,  water  stations,  overseers'  houses, 
workshops,  8  locomotives,  6  passenger  cars,  3  baggage 
cars,  60  box  cars,  and  60  platform  cars. 

Gallant's  point,  the  town  of  Beaufort  and  Lenoxville  are 
all  on  the  same  side  of  the  harbor.  A  road  to  Beaufort 
would  pass  near  G-allant's  point,  and  could  be  extended  if 
required  to  Lennoxville,  thus  forming  a  continuous  road, 
the  distance  from  Gallant's  point  to  Beaufort  and  from 
Beaufort  to  Lennoxville  being  links.  But  not  so  with  re- 
gard to  Shepperd's  point  which,  as  before  described,  lies 
on  the  south  side  of  the  harbor,  and  to  reach  it,  I  made 
a  divergence  from  the  line  to  Beaufort,  commencing 
about  77  miles  from  Goldsborough,  a  little  east  of  Slo- 
cum's  creek.  The  divergence  was  made  at  this  point  to 
avoid  a  dense  pocosin,  not  on  account  of  any  difficulty  it 
presented  in  the  construction  of  the  road,  but  to  save  the 
time  that  would  have  been  necessarily  consumed  in  clear- 


ing  an  opening  for  the  survey.  From  this  point,  the' 
line,  as  surveyed,  will  be  separate'  and  distinct,  forming' 
no  part  of  that  to  Beaufort.  A  connection  could  he  very 
readily  made  between  it  and  Carolina  city,  the  site  of  a 
town  laid  out  on  Bogue  sound,  through  which,  to  the 
main  channel  or  harbor,  Lieut.  Maffit  in  his  recent  sur- 
vey reports  ten  feet  draft  of  water.  On  this  route  the 
road  might  also  be  carried  across  Bogue  sound  to  the 
"Banks"  adjoining  port  Macon,  where  there  is  a  good 
and  secure  margin  bordering  on  deep  water. 

The  point  of  divergency  above  mentioned  may  be* 
moved  forward  much  nearer  Newport  river,  or  in  other 
words,  may  be  carried  through  the  pocoshi  and  made  to 
fall  on  a  curved  line  compassing  the  harbor  and  connect- 
ing the  extreme  points  on  each  side,  and  this  plan  will  be 
advisable  if  the  views  which  I  shall  presently  advance 
should  be  adopted.  A  greater  length  of  road  will  thereby 
be  made'  common  to  the  two  routes,  the  one  leading  to 
Beaufort,  the  other  to  Shepperd's  point,  and  the  aggre- 
gate cost  of  the  work  reduced.  I  have  drawn  this  line 
On  the  map  in  blue  ink ;  an  examination  of  it  will  show 
that  the  road  common  to  Beaufort  and  Shepperd's  point 
will  be  about  88-J-  miles ;  the  distance  to  Beaufort  98-J 
miles ;  to  Shepperd's  point  95  miles,  and  the  aggregate 
distance  to  Beaufort  and  Shepperd's  point  105  miles',  the 
cost  of  which  will  be  about  $1,850,000. 

At  Shepperd's  point,  the  distance  from  the  main  chan- 
nel is  about  3,200  feet, — at  the  town  of  Beaufort  6,270 
feet,  and  at  Gallant's  point  5,610  feet :  the  removal  of 
a  bar  at  the  head  of  Lewis'  thoroughfare,  would  reduce 
this  distance  to  about  3,200  feet,  the  channel  from  the 
inlet  to  Lennoxville,  has  become  obstructed  by  the  for- 
mation of  bars  or  "  bulkheads,"  offering  not  more  than 
six  or  seven  feet  water  at  low  tide.  During  the  war  of 
1812,  this  was  an  important  point  for  the  rendezvous  of 
privateers.     The   well-known,   daring  and   adventurous 


7- 

Captain  Barns  resorted  to  Lennoxville  as  a  place  of 
refuge  as  well  as  lookout,  for  which  it  is  admirably 
adapted.  There  is  no  point  in  the  vicinity  which  affords 
better  protection,  combined  with  as  wide  a  range  of  ob- 
servation and  facility  for  getting  under  way,  and  giving 
chase  to  passing  vessels. 

The  harbor  of  Beaufort  is  regarded  by  nautical  men 
iis  one  of  the  most  accessible  on  our  coast.  In  the  sailing 
'directions  laid  down  ^on  a  chart,  made  under  the  direc- 
tion of  A.  D.  Bache,  Esq.,  superintendent  of  the  survey 
.of  the  coast  of  the  United  States  in  1851,  it  is  stated  that 
the  harbor  "  affords  shelter  from  all  winds,  and  is  easy 
of  access.  It  can  be  entered  with  the  wind  from  any 
point  except  3BT.  &  W.,  carrying  17  feet  over  the  bar  at 
mean  low  tide." 

By  the  report  of  Lieut.  Maffet,  above  referred  to, 
which  will  be  found  in  the  appendix,  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  water  has  shoaled  one  foot  in  the  last  three  years, 
owing  to  the  widening  of  the  channel,  caused  by  the 
getties  erected  by  the  U.  S.  Government,  for  the  protec- 
tion of  Fort  Macon,  which  throws  the  current  over  against 
point  Shackleford.  I  was  in  hopes  to  have  had  it  in  my 
power  to  lay  before  you  the  chart  of  Mr.  Maffet's  sur- 
vey, but  I  am  informed  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
(who  takes  a  zealous  interest  in  this  enterprize,)  that  it 
is  not  yet  prepared,  but  he  has  kindly  promised  to  send 
me  one  when  it  is  completed,  which  I  will  lay  before 
your  Excellency  as  soon  as  recieved. 

In  confirmation  of  the  recieved  opinion  as  to  the  salu- 
brity of  the  climate,  which  is.  proverbial  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State,  I  beg  leave  to  append  a  table,  for 
which  I  am  indebted  to  the  politeness  of  the  Surgeon 
<xeneral,  collated  from  the  sick  reports  on  file  in  tho 
medical  departments  at  Washington  city.  This  table 
exhibits  the  diseases  prevalent  at  Fort  Macon,  during 
its  occupancy  by  the  United  States  troops,  and  reports 


8 


but  two  deaths.  I  also  annex  a  communication  on  the 
same  subject,  from  Col.  C.  Q.  Tompkins,  late  of  the 
army,  whose  general  intelligence  and  habits  of  observa- 
tion entitle  his  opinions  to  much  weight  and  considera- 
tion. 

I  have  now  to  consider  the  most  important  provision 
of  the  act  making  the  appropriation  for  this  survey.  I 
allude  to  that  requiring  it  to  be  made  "from  the  most 
eligible  point  in  the  harbor  of  Beaufort." 

In  the  requirement  to  select  "the  most  eligible  point 
in  the  harbor  "  for  the  terminus  of  the  road,  I  recognise 
the  intention  of  the  Legislature  to  locate  the  road  so  as 
to  facilitate  the  carrying  into  effect  the  long  cherished 
object  of  the  State,  to  build  up  a  commercial  city  at  Beau- 
fort harbor.  But  I  do  not  so  readily  comprehend  what 
may  have  been  their  views  in  regard  to  the  "  most  eligi- 
ble point." 

Supposing,  however,  that  I  am  not  mistaken  in  the  ob- 
ject of  the  Legislature,  and  looking  to  the  vastness  of 
the  undertaking  and  the  magnificence  of  the  achieve- 
ment, which  is  no  less  than  turning  the  mighty  stream  of 
commerce  with  its  concomitants  of  wealth,  refinement 
and  power  into  new  and  unaccustomed  channels,  an  un- 
dertaking every  way  worthy  of  the  State,  it  would  be 
derogating  from  the  grandieur  of  the  conception  to  con- 
fine our  pursuit  of  "  the  most  eligible  point "  to  a  search 
for  an  isolated  point  in  the  harbor,  where  the  deepest 
water  might  be  found  approaching  nearest  the  shore ;  or 
to  adopt  that  point,  when  found,  unless  it  combined  other 
and  paramount  considerations. 

These  being  the  controlling  views  of  the  subject,  I 
have  been  unable  to  fix  my  mind  upon  any  particular 
"point."  One  is  as  attractive  to  my  eye  as  another;  in 
each  I  perceive  an  element  indispensible  to  the  fullness 
of  the  grand  and  noble  scheme  before  us.  Anything 
short  of  a  railroad  encircling  the  whole  harbor,  following 


all  its  indentations  and  communicating  with  every  point, 
strikes  me  as  being  irreconcilable  with  the  object  to  be 
attained,  and  not  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  and  intent 
of  the  law. 

This  enterprise,  undertaken  a  few  years  ago,  before 
rival  cities  had  acquired  their  growth,  would  not  have 
been  fraught  with  the  difficulties  which  now  attend  it. 
Then,  to  insure  success,  it  would  have  been  sufficient  to 
keep  pace  with  them ;  now,  it  is  necessary  not  only  to 
overtake  them,  but  to  outstrip  them.  The  cities  on  the 
Atlantic  have  been  built  up  by  the  slow  and  gradual 
accretions  of  time ;  beginning  with  a  fisherman's  hut, 
they  have  become  great  seats  of  commerce,  and  the  abodes 
of  man. 

The  harbor  of  Beaufort  undoubtedly  possesses  many 
advantages,  only  a  few  of  which  have  been  adverted  to 
here ;  but  to  make  it  the  centre  of  a  trade,  now  dispersed 
to  other  places,  a  city  must  be  built  up  in  a  day,  every 
thnig,  Minerva  like,  must  spring  into  existence  in  the  full 
perfection  of  matured  vigor:  whereas,  warehouses, 
storehouses,  and  all  the  paraphrenalia  of  trade  will  have 
to  be  provided  in  as  many  months  as  in  the  old  cities^ 
years  were  employed  on  buildings. 

To  concentrate  the  capital,  and  to  unite  the  energies  of 
the  greatest  number  of  those  personally  interested  on 
the  terminus,  it  seems  to  me,  is  the  proper  policy  to  be 
pursued.  I  therefore  advise  a  terminus  that  will  benefit 
and  embrace  all  points,  promote  harmony,  and  bring  into 
activity  the  whole  accumulated  wealth,  combine  the  en- 
ergies, and  stimulate  the  enterprise  of  all  interested  in 
the  property  bordering  on  the  harbor ;  and  to  this  end,  I 
would  recommend  the  immediate  construction  of  the  en- 
tire work :  that  is,  of  a  road  to  the  town  of  Beaufort,  an$ 
also  to  Shepherd's  point.  Collateral  branches  from  these 
lines  to  places  on  the  harbor  which  they  do  not  touch, 

Doc  No.  6.J  12 


10 


will,  in  effect,  make  the  whole  harbor  the  terminus,  and 
every  point  a  terminal  point. 

But  if  it  should  not  be  thought  advisable  in  the  outset 
to  incur  the  expense  of  completing  the  circle,  and  thus 
encompass  the  whole  harbor,  I  would  suggest,  in  con- 
formity with  the  views  I  have  expressed,  that  the  arc 
of  the  circle,  or  the  branch  from  the  main  stem  of  the 
road  leading  to  the  town  of  Beaufort,  be  first  constructed. 
I  recommend  this  as  the  policy  best  calculated  to  accom- 
plish the  object  in  view,  or  in  the  language  of  the  Act 
of  Assembly,  as  "  the  most  eligible  point  on  the  harbor," 
for  the  reason,  that  while  at  all  other  points,  towns  and 
cities,  exist  only  in  prospective,  there  are  centered  at 
Beaufort  a  population  of  1,661,  engaged  chiefly  in  com- 
mercial and  maritime  pursuits,  who,  being  provided 
with  dwellings,  and  possessed  of  wharf  property,  would 
direct  the  whole  of  their  capital  towards  extending  their 
business  accommodations,  and  placing  them  on  a  scale 
commensurate  with  the  increase  of  trade  consequent  on 
the  completion  of  the  Railroad. 

The  fact  of  there  being  other  localities  on  the  harbor, 
approximating  the  main  channel  more  nearly,  or  that 
the  branch  Railroad  to  Beaufort  is  longer  and  costs 
more,  is  not,  in  my  opinion,  a  sufficient  argument  in 
fevor  of  constructing  the  road  first  to  those  localities,  or 
against  making  Beaufort  the  first  depository  of  the  Rail- 
road. For  at  Beaufort,  as  I  have  before  observed,  the 
outlay  has  already  been  made  for  dwellings,  store-houses 
and  wharf  fronts :  the  only  additional  outlay  required, 
would  be  for  the  fitting  out  to  the  channel.  This  would 
be  an  inconsiderable  enterprise,  and  a  small  undertaking 
for  riparian  owners,  possessed  of  dwellings,  store-houses 
and  town  lots,  compared  to  those  which  would  be  requir- 
ed to  induce  one  to  break  up  his  domicil,  and  encounter, 
in  the  outset,  some  of  the  hardships  and  inconveniences 


11 


of  the  emigrant,  and  the  expenditures  for  a  dwelling  for 
his  family,  and  the  necessary  buildings  and  wharfing  for 
the  transaction  of  business. 

That  the  prospect  of  success  at  all  the  points  on  the 
harbor  would  justify  the  lemoval  of  business  men  from 
other  places,  and  those  expenditures  in  the  commence- 
ment, I  do  not  doubt.  But  time,  in  the  case  before  us,  is 
the  great  and  essential  element  of  success.  This  would 
be  gained  by  selecting  Beaufort  for  the  first  terminus, 
where  the  work  is  already  more  than  half  done.  There 
the  beginning  would  be  prosperous,  a  successful  and  en* 
couraging  development  would  be  at  once  made,  inciting 
the  rivalry  of  other  places  on  the  harbor  now  considered 
more  eligible  by  those  interested.  They,  too,  would 
build,  their  success  would  animate  others — until  pros- 
perity, the  beacon  of  enterprise,  would  finally  light  up  ' 
every  point.  The  harbor  would  be  crowded  with  ship- 
ping, a  great  city  would  spring  up,  an  honor  to  the  State 
and  a  testimonial  of  her  wisdom  and  foresight. 

In  regard  to  the  probable  revenue  of  the  road,  I  have 
no  data  upon  which  I  could  venture  an  opinion.  The 
belief  I  entertain  and  have  very  partially  expressed  in 
the  growth  of  a  large  commercial  city  at  Beaufort  har- 
bor, is  based  upon  the  supposition  of  an  extensive  system 
of  internal  improvement,  of  which  the  railroad  under 
consideration  forms  a  prominent  part,  and  would  be  ma- 
terially aifected  by  its  failure.  I  have  no  doubt,  how- 
ever, of  its  ability  to  sustain  itself  in  connection  with  ex- 
isting works. 

I  ventured  the  opinion,  in  a  report  made  some  years 
since,  that  a  copious  source  of  income  is  the  necessary 
consequence  of  the  operations  of  a  railroad ;  so  far,  this 
anticipatian  has  been  everywhere  realized,  and  will,  I 
think,  be  so  in  this  instance. 

In  conclusion,  I  take  occasion  to  acknowledge  the  val- 


12 


uable  services  of  Mr.  W.  A.  Kuper,  who  conducted  the 
purveys  under  my  directions,  and  discharged  his  duties 
with  intelligence,  industry  and  fidelity. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Your  Excellency's  very  ob't  serv't, 

WALTEK  GWYNN, 

Civil  Engineer.  • 


Ha 


Photomount 

Pamphlet 

Binder 

Gaylord  Bros. 

Makers 

Syracuse, N.  Y. 

PAT.  m  21,  1908 


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'.■''"■'■' 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00042071809 


FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


